Sr., was born
June 29, B77, at Ash Flat, Arkansas. He was the son of Jesse and Timy
(Walling) Ritchie. He attended school near Ash Flat, Arkansas, in Izard
County, and also attended Nashville Bible School in Nashville,
Tennessee.

On October 22, 1906, he
married Fannie Mae Cobb. To this union were born Andy T. Ritchie, Jr.,
Jesse Fulton and Francis Sewell.

He began preaching in 1901 at Ash Flat, Arkansas. Only two or three
times did he work with a congregation on a full time basis as their
regular full time minister. Mostly, his work was evangelistic in nature
and his work took him to Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida,
Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
His pulpit work was largely by Sunday appointment and "protracted"
meetings. At Newark, Arkansas, he preached in many meetings. In one of
these, he baptized 50 people at one time. Another of his most frequent
and successful works was at Hillsboro (Leiper's Fork) in Williamson
County, Tennessee. He preached frequently over a long period at the
Chapel Avenue church in Nashville, Tennessee.

One time when he returned to
his native soil. he was met at the train at Hardy, Arkansas, by one of
his brothers. The brother informed him that a man who was drunk had
heard that he was coming in and wanted to see him. They decided to dodge
the man but were unsuccessful in the attempt. When they met the man, he
extended his hand and said, "Don't you remember me? I am one of your
converts." Ritchie replied, "You look like a piece of my work. If the
Lord had had anything to do with your conversion, you wouldn't be in
this condition."

Many who heard him preach
will recall his praying. They will also remember that he extended the
invitation in these words: "While mercy lingers, truth instructs
and Jesus pleads. We sing for your encouragement and while we sing, we
wait to welcome you."

In 1906, having given up
some of his school work at the Nashville Bible School, he made an
unusual trip to the Holy Lands. This was one of the earliest such trips
made by members of the church. Within a short time, after his return,
his book, "Travels in Bible Lands," was published. He gave lectures on
his trip for the remainder of his life.

During
the Nashville Bible School days, Ritchie and R. B. Cawthon formed a
"David and Jonathan" friendship. They agreed that each would perform the
other's marriage ceremony and perform the funerals of each other's
children and whichever one survived would conduct the funeral service of
the other. Cawthon lived several years after the death of his close
friend, and he fulfilled his promise when Ritchie died in 1950.

Survivors included Mrs.
Ritchie (who died in 1956), and one son, Andy T. Richie, Jr. The funeral
service was conducted by R. B. Cawthon as he and Ritchie had agreed. The
funeral was held in Neely's Bend, Madison, Tennessee. The body was taken
to Nashville, Tennessee, and buried in the Springhill Cemetery where it
lies until the Lord Jesus returns to claim his own.

-In Memoriam, Gussie Lambert,
pages 241,242

Directions To The Grave Of Andy T. Ritchie

A.T Ritchie, Sr. is buried in the Springhill
Cemetery in the North East part of Nashville, Tennessee. Specifically
the cemetery is in Madison. From Downtown Nashville head north on I-65
north. Take Exit 16a, Briley Parkway, heading east. Go to the second
exit, 14b. Gallatin Pike. Turn left and travel north across the bridge
and look to your right. You will see Springhill Cemetery. This cemetery
is the outpouring of the old Presbyterian Church Cemetery adjacent to
the old church where Thomas B. Craighead preached. Travel over the hill
and enter the main entrance. After entering head back toward the corner
of the cemetery that you saw initially closest to Briley Parkway. This
will be the old part of the cemetery. After looking at the pictures
below, you may easily be able to locate the Ritchie plot. Not far from
the Ritchie plot is the grave of Thomas B. Craighead, an early
Presbyterian minister who knew and influence Barton W. Stone. Another
point of interest is that the property upon which you stand is a
location where B.W. Stone preached in the early years before leaving
Presyterianism. Just north of this spot about five miles is Mansker's
Station where Stone lived. The old brick house is still standing there,
and is said to be the oldest brick house in Tennessee. When standing at
this grave, you are standing on a mound steeped in rich history.